Best Lawyers:
The Family Law Issue
Featured Firms
Firm
Harrison & Held, LLP
Chicago, Illinois
13 Best Lawyers awards
Firm
Culin Sharp Autry & Day, P.L.C.
Fairfax, Virginia
1 Best Lawyers award
Firm
Fox Rothschild LLP
Los Angeles, California
266 Best Lawyers awards
Firm
Spencer Fane LLP
Kansas City, Missouri
203 Best Lawyers awards
Featured in Best Lawyers
DENISE L. SCHNEIDER is a Partner at Gladstone & Weissman, P.A., Board Certified by the Florida Bar in Marital and Family Law. Ms. Schneider earned her J.D. (magna cum laude) as well as her Bachelors of Science from Nova Southeastern University. Prior to joining the firm in 2007, Ms. Schneider worked in several Fort Lauderdale area boutique marital and family law practices. Following her admittance to the Florida Bar in 2002, Ms. Schneider has strictly limited her practice to complex matri...
HEATHER L. APICELLA, is a Partner at the law firm, Gladstone & Weissman, P.A. She is Board Certified by the Florida Bar in Marital and Family Law and is a member of the Family Law Section of the Florida Bar, Palm Beach County Bar Association, South Palm Beach County Bar Association and Broward County Bar Association, concentrating her practice in the area of Family Law. She was born in Denver, Colorado, and moved to Florida during her youth. She attended Florida State University where she...
John E. Byrnes has been practicing exclusively in the area of family law since 1996. He practices in all of the northern Virginia circuit courts and juvenile and domestic relations district courts as well as the Virginia Court of Appeal. While most matters are amicably resolved thorough negotiation or mediation, John has extensive litigation experience. During his career, John’s practice has covered virtually every aspect of family law, from: complex equitable distribution matters invol...
Sean P. Kelly has practiced exclusively in the area of family law and divorce for his entire career as a lawyer, which began in 1994. Having "grown up" in the field, Sean has extensive litigation experience and a significant knowledge and understanding of the law. One benefit of his years of litigation experience is that it affords a seasoned trial lawyer like Sean many more opportunities to achieve fair and equitable settlements for his clients. His substantial trial experience, coupled with...
Jim McLaren maintains a statewide family law practice emphasizing complex marital litigation in Columbia, South Carolina with the firm of McLaren & Lee. He has served the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers in various capacities, including President, member of the Executive Committee, member of the Board of Directors of the AAML Foundation, and on various committees. .He received the Fellow of the Year from the Academy in 2007. He has served as President and National Delegate of the S...
John N. Lambros concentrates his practice in the area of marital and family law, with a focus on dissolution of marriage issues including alimony, child support, parental responsibility, timesharing and equitable distribution; post-dissolution matters; adoption; paternity; pre-nuptial and post-nuptial agreements; and other related matters. Mr. Lambros is admitted to practice in Florida, Michigan, Massachusetts and in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida. He is a member of ...
Mr. Schiller is a Florida Bar board certified specialist in Marital and Family Law and a Fellow of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers. He concentrates 100% of his practice in the area of marital and family law primarily in Broward County, Palm Beach County, and Miami-Dade County. For more than 17 years, Mr. Schiller has specialized in handling high-net-worth individuals and affluent business owners in dissolution of marriage and divorce actions dealing with issues involving high conf...
As a Partner with Brinkley Morgan’s Business Litigation and Appellate group, Mark A. Levy represents a wide range of clients, including companies, individuals and local governments, assisting them with avoiding and resolving all types of business, commercial and financial disputes. His practice focuses primarily on commercial litigation, including creditors’ rights, bankruptcy, business torts, corporate disputes, contract disputes, real property disputes, employment and non-compet...
Philip J. Morgan is a Florida Bar board certified specialist in real estate law, concentrating his practice on commercial and residential transactions and the title insurance of those matters. He focuses primarily on working with lenders to successfully close commercial loans secured by real estate or other assets, in addition to loan workouts and foreclosures. As a member of the firm since its inception in 1975 and the managing partner since 1998, Mr. Morgan has received national recognition...
With more than 30 years of experience, Ronald L. Siegel is a Florida Bar Board Certified specialist in Wills, Trusts and Estates. He focuses his practice in all aspects of estate planning, probate, trust administration, guardianship and real estate. Mr. Siegel is an active member of the community, serving as the Financial Vice President of the Board of Directors for Jewish Association for Residential Care (JARC), and as a Director of the National Board of Israel Elwyn. He also serves on profe...
Ms. Nutter is a Florida Bar board certified specialist in Marital and Family Law, concentrating her practice in the areas of family law, civil litigation, guardianships, and probate and estate litigation. She is also recognized by the Florida Supreme Court as a certified Family Mediator, certified Appellate Mediator, and certified Guardian Ad Litem. She received her Juris Doctor from Nova Southeastern University Law School in 1987 and her Bachelor’s Degree from Florida Atlantic Universi...
I am a divorce and family law attorney with a very strong financial background as a CPA with a Masters of Tax Law. I am Partner at the firm Harrison & Held, LLP with offices in downtown Chicago. The divorce process can be complicated and overwhelming. I make sure my clients understand why we are taking each step through this process. I look at the entire situation objectively, always with an eye on the end result; working with my clients to find the best solutions for them and their famil...
Karen M. Baytosh is a partner with Bremer Whyte Brown & O’Meara LLP. She has experience in all aspects of insurance defense litigation, with a particular focus on complex litigation matters, including general liability and construction litigation in both state and federal courts in California and Nevada. Born in Orange, California, Ms. Baytosh received her Bachelor of Science with honors from California State Polytechnic University, Pomona in 1991, with a major in Hotel and Restaura...
Keith G. Bremer has been identified by the well-recognized Los Angeles Daily Journal as one of California’s Top 100 Attorneys. He is a top 50 attorney in Orange County and has also been named as one of America’s Top 100 Attorneys. Keith Bremer is a member of the prestigious American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA), he is an AV rated attorney by Martindale-Hubbell, and voted Super Lawyer by his peers for 11 years in a row (2009-2020). Mr. Bremer was invited to be, and is, a member...
Nicole Whyte has been identified by the well-recognized Daily Journal as one of California’s top 100 women attorneys. She has also been selected as one of America’s Top 100 attorneys (a lifetime achievement). Ms. Whyte is a founding principal of Bremer Whyte Brown & O’Meara, LLP. Admitted to the South African Supreme Court in 1990, the California State Bar in 1991, the Nevada State Bar in 2000, the Washington D.C. State Bar in 2011, and the Washington State Bar in 2012, ...
Peter C. Brown is the managing partner of the Las Vegas and Denver offices of Bremer, Whyte, Brown & O’Meara. Las Vegas serves as Mr. Brown’s home base, but he is constantly on the move handling complex litigation for his clients throughout the western United States. Mr. Brown has extensive experience in all aspects of civil litigation, including commercial litigation, construction defect, personal injury and general liability. Mr. Brown has handled numerous multi-million doll...
Executive Editor, Connecticut Family Lawyer, 1986-2001. Author: "Tax Aspects in Domestic Relations Cases," Trial Magazine, June, 1980; "When Prenuptial Contracts are Challenged in Court," The Family Advocate, Winter, 1984; "Valuation of Closely Held Corporations" [italics on]Valuation & Distribution of Marital Property,[italics off] Matthew Bender Publishing Co., 1984. Co-Author: "Lay Witnesses Can Value Assets," Trial Magazine, Vol. 22, No. 6, p. 33, June, 1986. General Editor, Family La...
DAVID W. GRIFFIN is a partner in the Westport, Connecticut law firm of Rutkin, Oldham & Griffin, L.L.C. Attorney Griffin is a Fellow of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers (AAML) and the Connecticut Chapter of the AAML. He serves as a member of the State of Connecticut Child Support Guidelines Commission and is a member and officer of the Connecticut Bar Association Family Law Section, where he also serves on the Executive Committee. He lectures frequently on topics ranging from f...
Connecticut Bar Association, Member, Executive Committee, Family Law Section 1993 - Present, Fairfield County Bar Association, American Bar Association, American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers (2005 - Present), International Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers (2007 - Present). Certificate of Completion GAL/AMC Comprehemsive Basic Training, State of Connecticut, 2012. Member, Connecticut Law Review, 1986-1988, Board of Editors, Connecticut Family Lawyer, 1994-2000, Co-author, Connecticut Practice ...
Carolyn has practiced family law for more than twenty years. She has helped North Carolina family law clients achieve their individual objectives with every case she takes. Carolyn’s law practice focuses on the client and that client’s reasonable objectives. She is very experienced in complex equitable distribution, business valuation in divorce, complex custody, alienation of affection, domestic violence, alimony, child support, grandparent’s rights and other areas falling ...
Jessica S. Bullock has practiced family law for more than 10 years. In 2014, Jessica was certified by the North Carolina State Bar as a specialist in Family Law. Ms. Bullock, a Director at Woodruff Family Law Group and with the firm since 2008, concentrates her legal practice in the areas of child custody and appeals. Jessica received her BA degree in Business Administration from the University of Mary Washington and her JD degree from Campbell University School of Law.
Jonathan Csuka, Director at Woodruff Family Law Group, has practiced family law for over ten years. He was certified as Family Law specialist by the North Carolina State Bar in 2014, and is one of 239 lawyers in the state of North Carolina to achieve this distinction. Mr. Csuka concentrates his practice in the areas of divorce, custody, and property division (including retirement).
David Masterman has practiced for over 30 years in Northern Virginia. He is admitted to the bars of Virginia’s state and federal courts, and to the bar of the Supreme Court of the United States. Mr. Masterman has served as chair of the family law section of the Arlington County Bar Association, the Virginia Trial Lawyers Association and, more recently, the Virginia State Bar. He served on the Board of Governors for the Family Law Section for 6 years and later on the Board of Governors o...
With an unshakable desire to start a different kind of law firm, Heather co-founded BAM Family Law (Broxterman Alicks McFarlane PC) with one vision: to build a law firm that recognizes and meets not just the legal, but the holistic human needs of all clients while helping them navigate the family law system. Heather brings extensive experience as well as patience, understanding, and careful attention to detail to all of her clients. She is very aware that most people in need of a family law a...
Jeffrey S. Horton Thomas is an employment law trailblazer respected for his work in high stakes employment law disputes throughout California. Well seasoned by more than 30 years in the trenches of significant employment litigation, Jeffrey is well regarded for his mature sense of judgment and tenacious, tactical approach to representing clients. As a strategic ally to mid-market and Fortune 500 companies, Jeffrey advises leaders in entertainment, technology, telecommunications, manufacturing...
Jerry's practice experience encompasses all aspects of federal and state employment law, including Title VII, Family and Medical Leave Act, Americans with Disabilities Act, Age Discrimination in Employment Act, Fair Labor Standards Act, and various state law provisions. He has litigated employment matters in federal and state courts at both trial and appellate levels. He regularly defends claims of discrimination (including sex, race, age, national origin, and disability), retaliation, sexual...
Sandra is a partner in Fox Rothchild's Family Law Practice. She practices throughout the state of New Jersey. From the inception of her legal career as a clerk to the presiding family court judge in Morris County to her current role as chair of the Essex County Bar Association’s Family Law Committee, Sandra has emerged as a leader in New Jersey divorce and family law. Sandra has dedicated her legal career to the thoughtful and diligent representation of clients in divorce and family law...
Geoffrey Platnick (“Geoff”) has a singular focus—achieving his clients’ goals. With a practice dedicated exclusively to family law within the state of Maryland and the District of Columbia, Geoff takes the time to meet people where they are, help them understand the legal road ahead, and formulate a strategy that will lead to the resolution they seek. This strategy always involves negotiation, but often includes litigation. Specifically, individuals rely upon Geoff to ...
Hadrian N. Hatfield represents clients who want creative, informed and thoughtful solutions to complex family law problems. His in-depth knowledge and extensive experience range from cases with high-stakes and strong emotions to interstate and international situations. Clients appreciate that, in the midst of the emotional fog that can permeate family law matters, Hadrian has a unique ability to keep them level-headed and focused on their objectives. An international businessman described his...
People turn to Scott Strickler when they are facing a challenging situation involving their marriage, custody of their children, or other legal concerns involving their family, particularly when the issues are complex and the stakes are high. Clients benefit from Mr. Strickler’s creative tactics. Opponents are rarely able to predict how he will approach a particular issue in a case. Mr. Strickler utilizes a highly tactical approach, and has more than three decades of experience in the f...
Alexander H. Xanttopoulos is a principal attorney with Roop, Xanttopoulos, Babounakis. He joined the predecessor firm in Fall 2010, to focus primarily on family law. He works in cases involving divorce, child custody, support, visitation and equitable distribution. Prior to joining Roop Law, Alex worked for several years for Greenspun, Shapiro, Davis and Leary P.C. as an associate practicing in the areas of domestic relations, traffic, criminal defense and civil litigation. He also has experi...
With a distinctive background and a rare competitive fire, David Roop has for more than a decade been one of Virginia's top family law attorneys. According to his peers, Roop is both a sophisticated thinker and a scrappy lawyer, a unique and useful mix for his contentious profession. David has a deeply strategic orientation along with a cheerful yet hard-driving disposition. David is a Baltimore native and graduate of Notre Dame University, Notre Dame, Indiana (BA, cum laude, 1985) and the Un...
Ellen E. Stewart, the chair of the firm's Health Care Group, received her B.A. degree from the University of Colorado in 1977. Ms Stewart went on to receive her M.S. degree in Health Administration from the University of Colorado in 1979 and her J. D. from the University of Denver, College of Law in 1984. She is a member of the Denver Bar Association, Colorado Bar Association, Health Law Section American Bar Association, Healthcare Financial Management Association (Fellow), American Health La...
Kelly’s practice focuses on all areas of federal taxation, including (i) tax planning and analysis for partnerships, LLCs, C- and S- corporations; and (ii) tax planning, structuring, and documentation for real estate joint ventures organized as LLCs and general and limited partnerships, including joint ventures with international investors. Kelly also conducts tax planning and analysis for individuals as well as tax planning for the taxation of amounts paid or received in litigation by ...
Sean has defended, investigated, and resolved hundreds of civil and administrative fraud investigations, matters and cases against all manner of companies, executives, clinicians, providers, and manufacturers, for which he is nationally-recognized. Sean offers clients 20 years of healthcare litigation and fraud enforcement experience -- most of which was honed during his years as an Assistant United States Attorney and the Offices of Inspector General and General Counsel for the U.S. Departme...
Josh Podolsky practices in the area of business law. He brings a high level of expertise and a practical approach to problem solving in his practice where he concentrates in real estate, commercial transactions, banking, finance, general business, and corporate and partnership matters. His practice involves the representation of buyers, sellers, investors, developers and financial institutions in a variety of areas, including business and real estate dispositions, acquisitions and other trans...
Featured in Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch
Mr. Lapointe is an attorney whose practice includes representing clients in the defense of personal-injury claims, representing and advising insurance carriers regarding coverage of all types of insurance claims, and representing entities in the defense and prosecution of various tort and contractual claims. He graduated from the University of Iowa College of Law in 2019. During law school he served as an extern for the Honorable Judge Stephen B. Jackson, Jr. of the United States District Cou...
Justin Contratto is an experienced family law practitioner and trial attorney. Prior to joining BodnarMilone, Justin was employed by well-regarded matrimonial firms in Manhattan and Northern Virginia, where he represented clients in complex matrimonial matters. Justin’s matrimonial practice has focused on the representation of high net worth individuals, including partners at major law firms, tech industry and finance executives, and high-profile public figures. Justin began his legal c...
Taylor Clay is a family law attorney in Greensboro, North Carolina. She is a Director at Woodruff Family Law Group and has been practicing family law since 2012. Her practice is focused on divorce and child custody cases. She represents clients in Greensboro, Winston-Salem, High Point, and throughout the Piedmont Triad area. Ms. Clay is a Board Certified Family Law Specialist by the North Carolina State Bar Board of Legal Specialization. She is a graduate of the University of North Carolina a...
“Every family law case presents a unique, high-stakes puzzle. Whether an informative consultation, a collaborative mediation, a litigious trial, or a difficult appeal, finding the best possible solution to the puzzle is my passion and the reason I love this practice” - Steven Visioli Domestic relations is an increasingly complex area of law and requires a demanding set of experience, skills, and knowledge. An intelligent and careful analysis of complex circumstances is needed, tog...
Featured "Lawyer of the Year" Honorees
Mr. Plitt is the chairperson for the firm's insurance coverage practice group. He is a preeminent and nationally recognized insurance coverage attorney. As the current senior author of Couch on Insurance 3d , Mr. Plitt's commentary on existing and emerging areas of insurance law is relied upon by courts and attorneys throughout the United States. He has also authored Arizona Liability Insurance Law and is a co-author of The Claim Adjuster's Automobile Liability Handbook , CAT Claims: Insuranc...
JEFFREY A. WEISSMAN is a Principal at the law firm of Gladstone & Weissman, P.A. He is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania Law School (J.D., 1994). Mr. Weissman is Board Certified in Marital and Family Law and is AV-Rated by Martindale-Hubbell. He was recently named “2018 Family Law Lawyer of the Year” by Best Lawyers in America , and has been repeatedly selected for inclusion in Best Lawyers in America , Florida Trend Legal Elite magazine, Florida Super Lawyers (&ldq...
PETER L. GLADSTONE is a Partner with law firm Gladstone & Weissman, P.A. He is Board Certified in Marital and Family Law (1999) and a Fellow of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers (2003), having practiced exclusively in this field since 1988. Mr. Gladstone is AV-Rated by Martindale Hubbell and has been repeatedly selected for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America (2005-2018 editions), Florida Trend Legal Elite magazine, Florida Super Lawyers (“Top 100 List – S. Flor...
As a Florida Bar Board Certified Specialist in Marital and Family Law, Kenneth A. Gordon serves as the Head of Brinkley Morgan’s Family Law Department. With 20 years of legal experience, he focuses his practice on handling complex family law matters, including dissolutions of marriage, alimony, parental responsibility and timesharing disputes, business valuations, prenuptial and postnuptial agreements, equitable distribution, adoption, domestic partnership agreements, appeals and all ot...
With 35 years of experience, Roberta Stanley is board certified by Florida Bar in marital and family law. She specializes in handling complex marital and family law cases for high-profile and high-net-worth individuals and business owners, including the preparation and enforcement of intricate prenuptial and postnuptial agreements, paternity and adoption issues, and dissolutions of marriage dealing with equitable distribution, business valuations, taxation issues, alimony, child support, and ...
With more than 40 years of experience, Thomas R. Tatum focuses his practice on the representation of title insurance underwriters and insureds, the resolution of disputed title matters and the investigation and resolution of real estate frauds and defalcations. His also represents clients in matters pertaining to liability insurance, defense and coverage disputes, and state and federal commercial and governmental litigation and administrative law disputes. AV Preeminent® rated by Martinda...
William S. Kramer is a Florida Bar Board Certified Real Estate lawyer, specializing in both real estate law and business/corporate law. With more than 30 years of experience, he represents banks and other lenders, investors, developers, builders, buyers and sellers, and landlords and tenants in a wide range of complex real estate matters in Palm Beach, Broward and Miami-Dade counties. He also serves as outside counsel to large and small closely held businesses and health care practices. Mr. K...
Lee Rosenberg is a trial and appellate litigator with over 20 years of experience in all phases of matrimonial and family law practice. This includes the trial of complex custody, support and equitable distribution matters, as well as the important ability to settle these cases. Lee is a Fellow of the American Academy of Matrimonial Attorneys (AAML) where he previously served as National Parliamentarian and as Chair of the AAML's National Chapter Leaders Committee. He is a member of the AAML'...
Craig Tractenberg is the leader of the Global Disputes team. He structures and resolves disputes through litigation and arbitration, dealing with franchises, licenses, intellectual property, business torts and insolvency issues. He has represented individuals, companies and governments in litigation before state and federal courts and in international arbitration forums such as AAA, ICDR, ICC and ICSID. What do you focus on? I focus on developing and protecting the financial equity and brand ...
Mr. August is a nationally recognized tax lawyer who advises clients on income tax matters, including foreign taxation of U.S. businesses and U.S. taxation of foreign businesses and investors. In many instances he works with corporate and real estate counsel on selecting the proper entity in which to engage in domestic or foreign business or investment operations. He has been involved in structuring as well as negotiating merger and acquisitions, both taxable and non-taxable, joint ventures, ...
Denise Mirman is the managing shareholder of Friedman & Mirman Co. LPA, a nine-lawyer firm that practices family law exclusively. She has been included in Super Lawyers every year since inception and is on several top lists in Columbus and Ohio. She has also been listed in Best Lawyers in America in Family Law for several years,a distinction limited to just 1% of the practicing attorneys in the country as voted upon by other lawyers, and she is the Best Lawyers in America 2015 Lawyer of t...
Scott Friedman is an OSBA Board Certified Specialist in Family Relations Law. Mr. Friedman is also licensed to practice law in the State of Florida. Mr. Friedman was born and raised in Columbus, Ohio and attended The Columbus Academy. He received his Bachelor of Arts from Miami University and his Juris Doctorate from Capital University Law School, where he was honored with the Order of the Curia. Scott served as President Chair of the American Bar Association Family Law Section for 2013-2014 ...
Biography His broad-based legal experience includes presiding as a municipal court judge of the City of Houston, a state district judge of both a Civil and Family District Courts, and served as assistant attorney general for the State of Texas and briefing clerk for the Honorable Judge Ingraham, Federal District Judge for the Southern District of Texas. He has extensive experience in civil trials and appeals involving complex litigation and family law cases. His mediation experience includes ...
When it comes to civil and criminal cases, Edward M. Yarbrough is the attorney you want on your side. A former United States Attorney for the Middle District of Tennessee, he is an award-winning lawyer with more than 40 years of experience. Ed practices Criminal Defense and Government Investigations, Personal Injury Law and Litigation and Dispute Resolution at Bone McAllester Norton. Ed has tried more than 150 jury cases to verdict, including more than 40 homicide cases. He has served as both...
In Brief
Family Owned and Operated
by David W. Holaday and John M. Goralka
In the era of sweeping tax reform, family businesses, particularly agricultural business, face many environmental and governmental risks. Outlined below are strategies to ensure family business survival in the face of these threats.
Split Decisions
by Jonathan Merel
Divorce is inevitably fraught with a torrent of emotions on both sides. Don’t let this occlude your ability to plan rationally and dispassionately to ensure as smooth a process as possible. Here are five common pitfalls to avoid.
The Evolving Reproductive Landscape
by Justin Smulison
The Supreme Court’s thunderclap Dobbs decision sent abortion policy nationwide into utterly unfamiliar terrain. The ruling also has a colossal effect on surrogates, intended parents and anyone involved in family planning given the patchwork of state laws likely to emerge. What’s a family law attorney to do?
Where There’s No Will . . .
by Anthony J. Enea
. . . there’s no way for you to ensure your assets get distributed the way you would prefer. A guide to the consequences of exiting the stage without a last will and testament in New York.
Estate Plan Implications in Divorce
by April Will and James Vedder
It’s essential that family law practitioners consult with estate planning attorneys as they guide their clients through a marital breakup. Here’s what to what to consider when there is a trust, but the parties do not trust each other.
The Quarter-Century Childhood
by Joseph Trotti
In recent years, proposed and enacted laws have significantly expanded parental obligation for child support, receiving little attention. Even if well-meaning, they have their flaws, beginning with reduced parental rights.
Divorce in a Downturn
by Jennifer Brandt
Couples who choose to end their marriage during a recession must confront a host of difficult economic questions in addition to all the financial and emotional demands inherent in any divorce.
Ghosts of Christmas Past
by Steven M. Visioli
’Tis the season . . . for a vacation without the kids. A recommendation against sharing co-parenting holidays with your ex.
Making a List, Checking It Twice
by Lindsay Heller
Being a separated parent with kids can add stress to the holidays. These five tips can help you navigate the season, maintain your sanity—and ensure that the focus remains on the children’s happiness.
Confronting the Inevitable
by Theresa Jo Gaffney
It’s never easy to contemplate one’s mortality. Yet end-of-life planning is essential at any age, as I learned all too well when my husband contracted COVID-19 several months into the pandemic. The peace of mind such forethought brings is essential should the worst come to pass.